Important Reminder: Etiquette of Joking In Islam

Assalaamualyukum wa rahmatullaahi wa barakaatuh
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Kindly check the following narrations…May Allaah assist us all (aameen)
1. Allah’s Messenger, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, said to his companion Hanzala, who thought that life should be free from fun and entertainment and that he committed hypocrisy when he played and jested with his wife and children: “But, Hanzala, refresh your heart from time to time.” (Muslim). Here the Prophet (sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) explained to the man that permissible fun and self-refreshment is desirable for the human soul to regain its activity and liveliness. He, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, also taught them the rules of conduct as regards joking, when asked about his joking with them, by saying: “Yes, but I speak truthfully.” (Tirmidhi)

2. Once an old woman came to him and said: O Messenger of Allah, pray to Allah for me to be admitted into Paradise. He said: “No old woman will be admitted into Paradise. On hearing this she went away crying. He said: Tell her that she won’t be an old woman when she goes into Paradise. Allah, the Exalted, says: “Lo! We have created them a (new) creation and made them virgins, lovers, friends.” (Qur’an, Chapter Al-Qamar, 54: 35-37)

3. Allah’s Messenger’s jokes were not limited to words, they included acts as well. Anas Ibn Malik, may Allah be pleased with him, said, “A bedouin called Zaher used to bring presents from the desert to the Prophet (sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) and the Prophet (sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) used also to supply him with provisions on leaving. He said about him: “Zaher is our ‘desert’ and we are his ‘city’. The Prophet (sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) loved him, though he was ugly-faced. One day, the Prophet (sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) came to him while he was selling some goods. He hugged him from the back unawares. Zaher said: “Release me.” Then he looked behind him and recognized the Prophet (sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam), so he pressed his back against the Prophet (sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) ’s chest. The Prophet (sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) called out: “Who purchases this slave?” Zaher said: “O Messenger of Allah, You will find me not sellable”. The Prophet (sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) answered: “But to Allah, you are not unsalable, or he said: To Allah, you are so dear”. (Tirmidhi)

4. A joke should not involve any hurt or insult to any Muslim. Allah’s Messenger said: “No Muslim is allowed to scare another Muslim.” (Abu Dawud) He also said: “Nobody should take (Muslim) brother’s belongings.” (Abu Dawud and Tirmidhi)

5. Joking should not drive a Muslim to lie in order to make others laugh; this is understood from the Prophet (sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) ’s words: “Woe to him who lies when speaking to make people laugh. Woe to him! Woe to him!”
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Jazaakumullaahu khayraan